It also has similarly high IQ for a wider zoom range but it performs differently. The Panasonic has slightly better center sharpness at the longer focal lengths, but the Olympus has better uniformity across the frame at wider apertures, particularly at the shorter end of the zoom range.

The Olympus is not great wide open at 40mm but it improves significantly when stopped down only one stop to f4. In most other respects the two models perform similarly.

The Panasonic has a slight edge in transmission though the Olympus is slightly more consistent throughout the range.

However, there’s little need to choose one over the other, unless image stabilization is a concern (with the exception of the GX7, Panasonic bodies don’t have it built-in).

Compared with the Panasonic 14-42mm f3.5-5.6 II ASPH zoom there’s a big difference in image quality but that model is a good performer for a kit lens. Like most zooms it’s sharper in centers at the shorter end but it’s not bad if you’ve no need of the performance, brightness or build of the other two.

Further readings for the Best lenses for the Olympus OM-D E-M1: Short telephoto and standard focal lengths

To provide photographers with a broader perspective about mobiles, lenses and cameras, here are links to articles, reviews, and analyses of photographic equipment produced by DxOMark, renown websites, magazines or blogs.

Olympus Lenses - Price/Value Ratio

As an Olympus E-PL5 owner with the two standard (cheap) lenses 14-42 and 40-150, as well as Nikon D600 & D3200 with several Nikkor lenses, it seems a stretch to pay for the premium m4/3 lenses. Yes they are smaller, but even after paying a premium price for glass you are still short of the image quality offered for the same price when compared to the Nikon (or Canon)DSLR packages. At the lower end (prices) the m4/3 bodies and lenses are a good value. But they are hard to rationalize at the high end.